98 COMMEECIAIi BOTANY. 



in 1864. They are, however, very rarely employed in this 

 country. 



Joannesia princeps. — Under the name of Anda-ASSU 

 this tree was first brought to notice in 1881 as yielding 

 seeds valuable in Brazil as a purgative and for affections of 

 the liver, jaundice, dropsy, etc. It belongs to the natural 

 order Euphorbiacese. 



Mallotus phUippinensis. — A large shrub or small tree 20 

 to 30 feet high, belonging to the same natural order as the 

 last, and very widely distributed, being found in Abyssinia, 

 Southern Arabia, throughout India, ia Ceylon, Malay 

 Archipelago, Philippines to Australia. The red glandular 

 powder obtained from the fruits is known as Kamala. 

 It is used as a vermifuge, or rather as a ta;nifuge in the 

 cure of tapeworm in India, as well as for dyeing silk red. 

 It was introduced into the Bx-itish Pharmacopoeia in 1864. 



Marsdenia cundurango. — The bark of this plant, under 

 tlie name of Condueango, began to attract considerable 

 attention in America as a remedy for the cure of cancer in 

 1871. Samples having been sent from Ecuador, its reputa- 

 tion soon reached this country, but it was not till the fol- 

 lowing year (1872) that its botanical origin became known, 

 when it was described by M. Triana under the name of 

 Goiwlobiis cundurango, which has since been referred to 

 Marsdenia, natural order Asclepiadete. 



For some time Cundurango bark was submitted to 

 numerous experiments, with the result that it was generally 

 pronounced to be of little oi- no use medicinally in cajicer 

 cases. Some interest, however, attaches to it in consequence 

 of its being included amongst the plants used by the natives 

 for the cure of snake-bites, under the name of Guaco. The 

 word Cundurango means "vine of the Condor" — from a 

 tradition of the country that when the condor is bitten by 

 a poisonous .snake, it swallows the leaves of this plant and 

 e.Nperiences no harm. 



